Comic of the Week: “Batman/Superman/Weird Al: World’s Weirdest”

Sometimes, a comic comes out that matches all my interests so perfectly that I have to write a Comic of the Week review about it. As a lifelong fan of “Weird Al” Yankovic, it then comes as no surprise that “World’s Weirdest,” wherein Weird Al meets Batman and Superman, is exactly that comic.

“Batman/Superman/Weird Al: World’s Weirdest” is written by Mark Waid and Tyrone Finch, with Dan Schoening and Fico Ossio on the art, Luis Antonio Delgado on the colors, and Steve Wands as the letterer. That’s an all-star team already, and they bring their A-game. (Weird Al himself is included in the credit for “vibes,” which is pretty fair.)

Comics with celebrity crossovers can often be hit-or-miss. While the best seamlessly integrate the guest star into the plot without feeling out of place, others have a random celebrity show up to save the day while the superhero the comic is about mostly provides commentary. “World’s Weirdest” may put Weird Al on an equal level with Batman and Superman, but it does so in an entertaining way that makes sense narratively.

“World’s Weirdest” is an appropriate name for the comic (as well as a play on “World’s Finest,” but you already knew that), as it’s a tribute to, well, being weird. Comics have plenty of weirdness that we can all enjoy, but even beyond the pages, it’s important to enjoy the goofier things in life (like the music of “Weird Al” Yankovic). The comic highlights this message by showing us the greatest threat to weirdness and comics alike: mundanity.

So, what’s the plot? Without spoilers, “World’s Weirdest” kicks off as a plague of normality infects one of the weirdest parts of the DC universe: the 5th Dimension, home of interdimensional imp Mr. Mxyzptlk. He turns to Batman and Superman for help, but they quickly discover that only one man is weird enough to be immune: “Weird Al” Yankovic.

That covers the basics. The rest is a fun, comedic adventure where the heroes (including Al) have to figure out what’s going on and save the day, filled with entertaining character interactions and a great tribute to being weird. (Also an accordion-themed homage to “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” of course.)

Mark Waid and Tyrone Finch keep the comic running at a good pace, with engaging and entertaining dialogue throughout. A personal favorite is Batman telling Weird Al that Robin loves his albums, and Batman tolerates them, but Al himself gets plenty of good lines. The writers not only have the voices and personalities down for DC characters like Batman and Mr. Mxyzptlk, but they also capture Al’s nicely.

Most notably, Weird Al fans will notice more than a few references to Al’s songs and recurring gags, from Harvey the Wonder Hamster to his taste for Twinkie wiener sandwiches to getting “the room next to the noisy ice machine for all eternity” (from the song “Everything You Know is Wrong”).

As it’s just one issue, “World’s Weirdest” only has so many pages to tell a complete story, but it doesn’t feel rushed. There’s enough time to set the stakes, bring the characters in, and carry the plot through to a satisfying ending while staying consistently entertaining across each page. Without spoilers, the antagonist behind the plot is a great choice, avoiding the usual go-to baddies Batman and Superman face and using a thematically appropriate foe with enough power to be a proper threat.

Above all else, “World’s Weirdest” is a story about embracing the things that make us weird. When Weird Al talks about spreading the message “that it’s okay to be weird,” I felt that to my core. This is a comic that embraces the strangest and goofiest aspects of comics while encouraging us to love what’s weird about ourselves.

How about the artwork? “World’s Weirdest” features illustrations by Dan Schoening and Fico Ossio, with colors by Luis Antonio Delgado bringing it all together. Their styles match nicely, so there are no jarring shifts between artists, and it’s visually engaging all around.

Schoening and Ossio do a great job bringing the comic to life, from the utterly insane world of the 5th Dimension to the streets of Metropolis. The 5th Dimension in particular is overflowing with detail that makes it feel alive, otherworldly, and absolutely bonkers, featuring sights like a car that’s also a giant hatching egg, a pink elephant on a large ball, and what appears to be a building-sized croissant… and that’s just in the background. That makes the shift all the more jarring as the world is overrun with mundanity, heightening its impact.

Similarly, the artists do a great job with the character designs. Batman, Superman, and all the other recognizable comic characters already have familiar silhouettes, and the artists capture them nicely with a good balance of detail. Weird Al himself gets a slightly exaggerated design that brings out his features well, like the shape of his face and his iconic Hawaiian shirts.

During the final showdown, the artwork really goes all-out. Music flies across the page as the landscape shifts, and the panels themselves bend as space warps around them. It helps maintain the pacing for the comic while helping the core moments land all the better and adding intensity to each scene, as a good comic clash should.

Delgado’s color work does a great job setting the atmosphere as well, shifting between bright, vibrant colors and a dull gray as needed.

When normalcy overtakes an area, it becomes saturated with dark shades of brown and gray, which makes the brightness of Al’s shirts and Superman’s blue stand out even more. It contrasts well with the bold, expressive colors of the 5th Dimension, as well as with the familiar tones of Metropolis, making the shift all the more notable.

Likewise, when Al plays his music, the glowing tones of the tunes nearly fly off the page, illuminating the area as we read. The color work brings out the artwork and enhances each scene, keeping us drawn in to the moment and feeling the mood each moment conveys.

If you’re a fan of “Weird Al” Yankovic, you probably already bought this comic and have it sitting right between your old VHS copy of “UHF” and that one concert t-shirt that’s completely worn out but you can’t bring yourself to throw out. (We all have those, right? It’s not just me?)

But if you’re on the fence, “World’s Weirdest” is absolutely worth reading, with fantastic work from the writers and artists alike. It’s a great tribute to Weird Al and all the weird things that make comics so much fun and life more bearable.